Lake Phalen Tudor

It’s just an unfinished attic, but those bare studs and rafters beckon! You want to make the most of this space, combining cost effective design with an occasional flourish? What do you do?

Try this. Build a space that follows the style and geometry of the house, and paint it brown–a rich, hearth-like, cozy brown. Use stock doors and moldings in inventive ways. For example, use double doors to punch up the bathroom entry. Build custom bookshelves around windows for a relatively inexpensive “customized” look.

Fill the shelves with books, and enjoy reading them in your new haven.